Maple Bundt Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Glaze

If you love the cozy flavors of fall, you are going to love this Maple Bundt Cake! I found the limited-edition Betty Crocker Maple Cake Mix at Walmart and, of course, I had to grab a box and put my own KMarie Kitchen spin on it!

The maple flavor immediately made me think of crisp fall mornings, holiday baking, and a beautiful dessert sitting on a Thanksgiving or Christmas dessert table. With a few simple additions like milk, sour cream, vanilla, and maple flavor, a boxed cake mix turns into a deliciously moist and flavorful maple Bundt cake.

And because I believe every good cake deserves a little something extra, I finished this cake with a creamy maple cream cheese glaze. Trust me—it’s the perfect finishing touch!

After tasting the cake, I also thought: PECANS! Maple and pecans are a match made in heaven, so I included a pecan variation below if you want to take this fall cake to the next level.

Why You’ll Love This Maple Bundt Cake

There are so many reasons this easy maple cake belongs on your fall baking list!

• Easy semi-homemade dessert: Start with a boxed cake mix and add a few simple ingredients.
• Perfect fall flavor: Maple gives this cake that warm, cozy flavor we crave during the cooler months.
• Moist and tender: Sour cream helps give the cake a soft, rich texture.
• Holiday-ready: This cake would be beautiful on a Thanksgiving or Christmas dessert table.
• Easy maple glaze: The maple cream cheese glaze adds another layer of flavor.
• Pecan-friendly: Chopped pecans would be delicious folded into the batter or sprinkled over the glaze.

What Is a Maple Bundt Cake?

A maple Bundt cake is a rich, tender cake flavored with maple and baked in a decorative Bundt pan. The shape of the Bundt pan makes this simple cake look extra special without requiring complicated decorating.

For this recipe, I’m using a limited-edition Betty Crocker Maple Cake Mix as the starting point. Then I add a few ingredients to enhance the cake and give it more of that homemade taste.

This is exactly the kind of recipe I love because you don’t have to start completely from scratch to make something that tastes special.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Maple Cake

• 1 box Betty Crocker Maple Cake Mix
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup milk
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 3–4 tablespoons sour cream
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon maple extract flavoring, optional

For the Maple Cream Cheese Glaze

You’ll need:

• Cream cheese
• Powdered sugar
• Butter
• Milk or whipping cream, as needed for consistency
• Maple Extract flavoring, to taste

Adjust the amount of liquid depending on how thick or thin you want your glaze.

How to Make Maple Bundt Cake

1. Prepare Your Bundt Pan

Preheat your oven according to the cake mix package directions.

Generously grease and flour your Bundt pan, making sure you get into all of the decorative grooves. You can also use your favorite baking spray designed for cakes.

Tip: Don’t skimp on preparing your Bundt pan! A well-greased pan helps make releasing the finished cake much easier.

2. Make the Maple Cake Batter

Add the Betty Crocker Maple Cake Mix to a large mixing bowl.

Add:

• 4 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• ¼ cup oil
• 3–4 tablespoons sour cream
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1 tablespoon maple flavoring, if using

Mix until the ingredients are well combined and the batter is smooth.

Don’t overmix the batter. Once everything is incorporated, you’re ready for the Bundt pan.

3. Pour Into the Bundt Pan

Pour the cake batter evenly into your prepared Bundt pan.

Gently tap the pan on the counter a couple of times to help settle the batter and release any large air bubbles.

4. Bake the Maple Bundt Cake

Bake according to the baking directions for your cake mix, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.

Because oven temperatures and Bundt pans can vary, begin checking your cake toward the end of the recommended baking time.

5. Cool the Cake

Allow the cake to cool in the pan for several minutes before carefully turning it out onto a cooling rack or serving platter.

Let the cake cool completely before adding the glaze.

How to Make Maple Cream Cheese Glaze

While your cake is cooling, prepare the glaze.

Combine softened cream cheese with powdered sugar and butter to create your desired consistency. I just used my cream cheese icing recipe

Add a little maple flavoring and mix until smooth.

For this cake, I like the glaze thick enough to slowly drip down the sides of the Bundt cake without completely running off.

Once the cake is completely cooled, drizzle the maple cream cheese glaze over the top. (I love melting the cream cheese icing and pouring it on the cake)

Add Pecans for a Maple Pecan Cake

Now let’s talk about the pecans!

After tasting this cake, I immediately thought that chopped pecans would be absolutely delicious with the maple flavor.

To make a Maple Pecan Bundt Cake, try one of these options:

Option 1: Add Pecans to the Batter

Fold chopped pecans into the prepared cake batter before pouring it into the Bundt pan.

Option 2: Add Pecans to the Glaze

Drizzle the maple cream cheese glaze over the cake and sprinkle chopped toasted pecans over the top.

Option 3: Do Both!

For the ultimate fall dessert, add chopped pecans to the batter and finish the cake with maple cream cheese glaze and toasted pecans.

That combination would be perfect for Thanksgiving!

Tips for Making the Best Maple Bundt Cake

Use Room-Temperature Ingredients

Whenever possible, allow your eggs, milk, and sour cream to come closer to room temperature before mixing. This can help the ingredients incorporate more evenly.

Don’t Overmix

Once the batter is combined, stop mixing. Overmixing can affect the texture of the finished cake.

Prepare Your Bundt Pan Well

Bundt cakes are beautiful, but those decorative grooves can make cakes tricky to release. Make sure the entire pan is thoroughly greased and floured or use a reliable baking spray.

Let the Cake Cool Before Glazing

If your cake is still warm when you add the glaze, it may melt and run off too quickly.

For those pretty maple glaze drips, let the cake cool completely first.

Taste Your Glaze

The maple flavor is completely customizable. Add a little maple flavoring, taste, and adjust until you get the maple flavor you want.

Can I Add Maple Flavoring to the Cake?

Yes! The maple flavoring is optional, but I recommend it if you want to enhance the maple flavor of the cake.

Since the Betty Crocker Maple Cake Mix already has maple flavor, you don’t necessarily need it. However, adding a little extra maple flavor gives the cake an even more noticeable maple taste.

I also like adding maple flavoring to the cream cheese glaze for another layer of maple flavor.

Can I Add Pecans to This Cake?

Absolutely! Pecans would be delicious in this recipe.

I recommend using chopped pecans and either folding them into the batter or sprinkling toasted pecans over the maple cream cheese glaze.

For an extra special holiday presentation, use pecan halves around the top of the cake after glazing.

How to Store Maple Bundt Cake

Store the glazed maple Bundt cake covered in the refrigerator because of the cream cheese glaze.

Allow slices to sit at room temperature for a short time before serving if you prefer a softer texture.

If you are making the cake ahead of time, you can bake the cake, allow it to cool completely, and store it covered. Add the glaze closer to serving time.

Can I Make This Maple Cake Ahead of Time?

Yes! This is actually a great cake to make ahead for fall gatherings and holiday entertaining.

Bake the Bundt cake a day ahead, allow it to cool completely, and store it covered. Prepare the glaze separately and drizzle it over the cake before serving.

This makes it an easy dessert for Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, Christmas, or a fall dinner party.

When to Serve Maple Bundt Cake

This cake would be delicious for so many fall and holiday occasions:

• Thanksgiving dinner
• Friendsgiving
• Christmas brunch
• Holiday dessert tables
• Fall birthday celebrations
• Sunday dinner
• Church gatherings
• Family reunions
• Fall baking parties
• Afternoon coffee or tea
• Holiday potlucks

It would also make a beautiful hostess gift. Place the cake on a pretty cake stand, drizzle it with the maple cream cheese glaze, add a few pecans, and wrap it up for someone special.

What to Serve With Maple Bundt Cake

A slice of this cake would be wonderful with:

• Hot coffee
• Apple cider
• Hot tea
• Chai tea
• A vanilla latte
• A maple latte
• Hot chocolate

And if you’re serving this cake during the holidays, a little whipped cream on the side would be delicious too!

KMarie Kitchen’s Semi-Homemade Cake Mix Magic

This recipe is a perfect example of why I love giving boxed cake mixes a little homemade magic.

Starting with a cake mix doesn’t mean you can’t create a dessert that feels special and homemade. Adding ingredients like milk, sour cream, vanilla, and maple flavoring can transform a simple cake mix into something worthy of your holiday table.

And that’s the fun of baking—sometimes a little creativity is all you need!

Sweet Endings

Finding this limited-edition Betty Crocker Maple Cake Mix at Walmart was definitely a fall baking win! Make sure you join us in my Box Cake Mix Magic Family on Facebook too for more Box Cake Mix Recipes and Baking Tips!!

This Maple Bundt Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Glaze is easy enough for a weekday baking project but pretty enough to serve during the holidays. The maple flavor makes it perfect for fall, while the creamy glaze gives it that extra touch of sweetness.

And after tasting it, I’m convinced that pecans are the next move!

Whether you add them to the batter, sprinkle them over the glaze, or do both, maple and pecans would make this cake even more delicious.

So if you happen to spot that Maple Betty Crocker Cake Mix at your local store, grab a box and work a little KMarie Kitchen cake mix magic!

Happy Fall Baking, foodie friends!